An optical system (OL) formed from a preceding lens group (GA) having a negative refractive power, and a succeeding lens group (GB) having a positive refractive power, the lens groups being arranged in order from the object side along the optical axis. The succeeding lens group (GB) has: a focusing group (GF) having a positive refractive power, the focusing group (GF) being positioned furthest toward the object side of the succeeding lens group (GB); and an image-side group (GC) positioned further toward the image side than the focusing group (GF). During focusing from an infinitely distant object to a short-distance object, the focusing group (GF) moves toward the image side along the optical axis and satisfies the following conditional expression.

0.78<fB/fC<1.00

In this conditional expression,

fB is the focal distance of the succeeding lens group GB, and

fC is the focal distance of the image-side group GC.

A zoom lens includes a plurality of lens units. The plurality of lens units consist of, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a middle group including one or more lens units, and a final lens unit having a negative refractive power. Each distance between adjacent lens units changes during zooming. The first lens unit includes at least three negative lenses. Predetermined conditions are satisfied.

A zoom optical system consists of a first lens group having negative refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power, and a rear lens group which are disposed in order from an object. The rear lens group comprises a last lens group and an F lens group in order from a side closest to an image. Lens groups forming the first lens group, the second lens group, and the rear lens group are configured in such a manner that, upon zooming, the respective lens groups move and a distance between the lens groups adjacent to each other changes. At least a part of the F lens group is configured to move upon focusing. Further, the following conditional expression is satisfied.
−0.220<f1/fE<0.280
where f1: a focal length of the first lens group, and fE: a focal length of the last lens group

An optical system comprising a plurality of lens groups arranged on an optical axis and comprising a leading lens group, a first focal lens group, and a second focal lens group. The leading lens group is arranged further on the object side than the first focal lens group and the second focal lens group is arranged further on the image side than the first focal lens group. The first focal lens group has positive refractive power and moves along the optical axis to the image side when focusing from an infinite object to a short-distance object. The second focal lens group: has a negative refractive power; travels along the optical axis to the object side when focusing from an infinite object to a short-distance object; and has, between the first focal lens group and the second focal lens group, an intermediate lens group that includes at least one lens.

A zoom optical system consists of a first lens group having negative refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power, and a rear lens group which are disposed in order from an object. The rear lens group comprises a last lens group and an F lens group in order from a side closest to an image. Lens groups forming the first lens group, the second lens group, and the rear lens group are configured in such a manner that, upon zooming, the respective lens groups move and a distance between the lens groups adjacent to each other changes. At least a part of the F lens group is configured to move upon focusing. Further, the following conditional expression is satisfied.

−0.220<f1/fE<0.280

where f1: a focal length of the first lens group, and fE: a focal length of the last lens group

The variable magnification optical system consists of a front group, a middle group, and a rear group, in order from an object side. The front group consists of two or fewer lens groups and has a negative refractive power. The middle group includes only one lens group that has a positive refractive power as a lens group. The rear group consists of three or less lens groups. An aperture stop is disposed between a lens surface closest to an image side in the front group and a lens surface closest to the object side in the rear group. The front group includes at least three negative lenses and at least one positive lens. A negative meniscus lens convex toward the object side is disposed closest to the object side in the front group. The variable magnification optical system satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.

A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and three or more lens units. A distance between adjacent lens units varies during zooming. A predetermined condition is satisfied.

A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and two or more additional lens units. In zooming, the first lens unit moves, and an interval between adjacent lens units changes. The refractive index of a negative lens A disposed on a most object side of negative lenses included in the first lens unit is higher than or equal to 1.89, and the negative lens A and a lens B disposed adjacent to an image side of the negative lens A satisfy a predetermined relationship.

A zoom optical system consists of a first lens group having negative refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power, and a rear lens group which are disposed in order from an object. The rear lens group comprises a last lens group and an F lens group in order from a side closest to an image. Lens groups forming the first lens group, the second lens group, and the rear lens group are configured in such a manner that, upon zooming, the respective lens groups move and a distance between the lens groups adjacent to each other changes. At least a part of the F lens group is configured to move upon focusing. Further, the following conditional expression is satisfied.

−0.220<f1/fE<0.280

where f1: a focal length of the first lens group, and fE: a focal length of the last lens group

A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and three or more lens units. A distance between adjacent lens units varies during zooming. A predetermined condition is satisfied.